Ski boot with latchable guided heel holder

ABSTRACT

A ski boot with a heel-holding shell that can be latched or unlatched to slide up and down in a guided path within the boot.

United States Patent Rathmell Mar. 26, 1974 SKI BOOT WITH LATCHABLEGUIDED [56] References Cited HEEL HQLDER UNITED STATES PATENTS [76]Inventor: Richard K. Rathmell, 12 Pine Tree 1,700,569 I 1/1929 Hillery36/80 Rd, Ramsey, NJ, 07446 3,599,351 8/1971 Check 36/25 AL 3,722,1123/1973 Morgan 36/25 AL [22] Filed: Dec. 21, 1972 [2]] Appl NO; 317,287Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson 52 u s Cl 36/2 5 AL 36/80 [57]ABSTRACT E A43; 21/36 A ski boot with a heel-holding shell that can be[58] Fieid AL 80 69 latched or unlatched to slide up and down in aguided 6 path within the boot.

9 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDMARZS I974 FIG. I

SKI BOOT WITH LATCHABLE GUIDED HEEL HOLDER CROSS REFERENCE See theaccompanying application entitled Ski Boot with Latchable ArticulatedLeg Holder."

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention deals with a ski boot adapted tofacilitate a cross-country style of skiing using the skis and safetyrelease bindings most commonly used for downhill skiing, giving theskier greater control and safety than the special cross-country skis,boots and bindings offer for down-hill skiing.

BACKGROUND Ski boots of the rigid type now commonly used for downhillskiing, with a rigid sole attached both front and back by safety releasebindings t the ski, do not permit the heel to be raised for comfortablewalking or horizontal skiing. Ski boots of the soft pliable type usedfor cross-country skiing generally are attached only at the toe end inorder that the heel can be raised. These special boots cannot be usedwith the safety release bindings and skis commonly used for down-hillskiing. The skier with special cross-country boots, bindings and skiscannot approach a down-hill run with the same techniques as a skier withhigh-performance safety release bindings. Devastating consequences canfollow when a skier attempts to turn his skis and finds that his heelhas shifted to the side, leaving his foot pointed in a differentdirection than his ski.

It is evident that for good ski response to any slight motion of theskiers foot, the foot must not slide around in the boot and the bootmust not move relative to the ski. For a skier to apply a horizontalturning torque to the ski, he must transmit two horizontal forces inopposite directions. For instance, to swing a ski to the right his heelmust press to the left while the toe of the boot presses to the right.

It is an object of this invention to make a ski boot that permits theskier to raise his heel relative to his ski without sacrificing controlfor turning his ski.

It is a further object to make the type of skis and safety releasebindings that are commonly used for down-hill skiing more useful forcross-country skiing.

It is a further object to make a boot that is used for cross-countryskiing also better suited for down-hill ski- It is a further object tomake a boot that will be inexpensive to manufacture and distribute. 7

It is a further object to make a boot that is easy to put on and takeoff, and more comfortable to wear.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention,there is provided a ski boot with a sole and an enlarged upper shellthat can contain a guided heel-holding shell in addition to the skiersfoot, wherein the heel-holding shell can be latched into a substantiallyfixed position or unlatched to permit the skiers heel to be raised orlowered relative to the sole.

FIG. I shows a sectional view of one example of such a ski boot. Thereis a sole 10 with an attached upper shell. A sliding heel-holding shell11 has an adjustable strap 6 which is attached to both the left andright sides of the heel-holding shell. This strap can be fastened overthe skiers instep to hold the heel-holding shell firmly in placerelative to the skiers foot. The heelholding shell also has a guidancemeans, with matching projections such as 13 from the heel-holding shell,and grooves 2 in the upper shell which limit the motion of theheel-holding shell to the path so defined. A single dove-tail type ofprojection and matching groove can prevent the heel-holding shell fromsliding forward or sideways, but additional matching projections andgrooves on both the right and left sides of the. heelholding shell andupper are preferred. Preferably, the guidance path should follow the arcof a circle, where the center of the circle is the principal joint 14 inthe ball of the foot.

The heel-holding shell can be latched down by a variety of meansincluding a sliding pin 3 that fits into receiving hole 12. When thelatch pin is disengaged, a spring 4 is a secondary constraint to keepthe guidance means from becoming disengaged. A flexible member thatresists elongation, like a cord, can serve the same purpose. When it isdesired to take off the boot, the secondary constraint is disconnectedat one end.

For purposes of keeping snow and cold air out of the boot, a flexiblecover 5 can be attached to the boot by an elastic ring 7. The flexiblecover can be an integral part of the ski pants or a special piece heldby elastic or other means to the skiers leg.

The toe projection 9 and the heel projection I preferably are of theconventional type to fit conventional safety release bindings.

The boot as illustrated can be molded inexpensively in a single piecewith an integral sole and a fixed opening large enough to receive theskiers foot. The outside of the heel-holding shell obviously must beengineered to conform to the guidance grooves in the boot, and theinside width of the heel-holding shell should be adjustable with paddingto make a tight but comfortable fit to the skiers heel.

Means to transmit forces from the front of the skiers foot to the skiare not the subject of this'patent; but obviously means must beprovided. Conventional know-n means include fitted or foamed paddingwithin a rigid upper, and buckles or laces on a more or less pliableupper.

A number of known ski boots utilize a soft inner boot within a fittedrigid boot, giving some extra advantage when the inner boot can be wornindoors. The heelholding shell of the present invention similarly can beextended to become an inner boot with a flexible sole 15. If this isdone, the present invention still differs from the known systems in thatthe known systems fit the outer shell tightly over the inner boot or, ata minimum, constrain the sole from moving, whereas in the presentinvention it is essential that some vertical motion be allowed.

Many variations and modifications not specifically illustrated arepossible, but it is not intended that FIG. I or the foregoing disclosureshould define the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A ski boot including a sole, an upper shell, a guided heel-holdingshell wherein the guidance means permits the heel to be raised relativeto the sole but substantially prevents forward, backward, or sidewaysmotion of the heel relative to the sole, means for latching theheel-holding shell in a substantially fixed position relative to thesole, and means for unlatching the heel-holding shell.

2. A ski boot as in claim 1 where the heel-holding shell is part of aninner boot, this inner boot having a flexible sole under the ball of thefoot, and the outer boot upper has inside dimensions large enough toallow the inner boot to rise in back, starting at the ball of the foot.

3. A ski boot as in claim 1 with secondary constraint means provided tolimit the vertical motion of the heelholding shell to a greater orlesser degree.

4. A ski boot as in claim 1 with a guidance means and a secondaryconstraint that permits the heel-holding shell to be raised four inches,or more or less, without becoming disengaged from the guidance means,and means for disengaging the secondary constraint when desired.

5. A ski boot as in claim 1 where the vertical motion of theheel-holding shell is constrained by elastic means requiring greaterforce for greater vertical motion. 7 6. A ski boot as in claim 1 wherethe upper shell has a fixed opening large enough to permit the skier toinsert or withdraw his foot from the upper shell while the heel-holdingshell is attached to his heel.

7. A ski boot as in claim 6 with a flexible cover having means to fitover the fixed opening and around the skiers leg.

8. A ski boot as in claim 1 where the sole is adapted to theconventional safety release bindings such as are used for down-hillskiing.

9. A ski boot with a rigid sole and an enlarged upper shell attached tothe sole, said upper shell having an opening large enough to permit theskier to insert or withdraw his foot, a sliding heel-holding shell withmeans of holding the skiers heel substantially fixed relative to thisheel-holding shell, a guidance system with means to restrict the motionof the heel-holding shell to a vertical are relative to the sole, thecenter of the circle defining this are coinciding approximately with theprincipal joint in the ball of the skiers foot, a means to latch theheel-holding shell in a fixed position relative to the sole, a means tounlatch the heel-holding shell from its fixed position, secondaryconstraining means to keep the heel-holding shell attached to theguidance system, means of releasing the said secondary constrainingmeans when it is desired to separate the heel-holding shell from theboot upper, suitable available means for preventing the ball of theskiers foot from excessively shifting sideways or vertically relative tothe sole, and suitable available means for attaching the sole of theboot to the ski.

1. A ski boot including a sole, an upper shell, a guided heelholdingshell wherein the guidance means permits the heel to be raised relativeto the sole but substantially prevents forward, backward, or sidewaysmotion of the heel relative to the sole, means for latching theheel-holding shell in a substantially fixed position relative to thesole, and means for unlatching the heel-holding shell.
 2. A ski boot asin claim 1 where the heel-holding shell is part of an inner boot, thisinner boot having a flexible sole under the ball of the foot, and theouter boot upper has inside dimensions large enough to allow the innerboot to rise in back, starting at the ball of the foot.
 3. A ski boot asin claim 1 with secondary constraint means provided to limit thevertical motion of the heel-holding shell to a greater or lesser degree.4. A ski boot as in claim 1 with a guidance means and a secondaryconstraint that permits the heel-holding shell to be raised four inches,or more or less, without becoming disengaged from the guidance means,and means for disengaging the secondary constraint when desired.
 5. Aski boot as in claim 1 where the vertical motion of the heel-holdingshell is constrained by elastic means requiring greater force forgreater vertical motion.
 6. A ski boot as in claim 1 where the uppershell has a fixed opening large enough to permit the skier to insert orwithdraw his foot from the upper shell while the heel-holding shell isattached to his heel.
 7. A ski boot as in claim 6 with a flexible coverhaving means to fit over the fixed opening and around the skier''s leg.8. A ski boot as in claim 1 where the sole is adapted to theconventional safety release bindings such as are used for down-hillskiing.
 9. A ski boot with a rigid sole and an enlarged upper shellattached to the sole, said upper shell having an opening large enough topermit the skier to insert or withdraw his foot, a sliding heel-holdingshell with means of holding the skier''s heel substantially fixedrelative to this heel-holding shell, a guidance system with means torestrict the motion of the heel-holding shell to a vertical arc relativeto the sole, the center of the circle defining this arc coincidingapproximately with the principal joint in the ball of the skier''s foot,a means to latch the heel-holding shell in a fixed position relative tothe sole, a means to unlatch the heel-holding shell from its fixedposition, secondary constraining means to keep the heel-holding shellattached to the guidance system, means of releasing the said secondaryconstraining means when it is desired to separate the heel-holding shellfrom the boot upper, suitable available means for preventing the ball ofthe skier''s foot from excessively shifting sideways or verticallyrelative to the sole, and suitable available means for attaching thesole of the boot to the ski.